If you have just heard about white coffee and want to know what the fuss is all about, then we are here to help. We know you have a lot of questions, but let’s start by answering the most basic question of them all.
What is white coffee? White coffee is coffee beans roasted lightly to a whitish-yellow color. The beans are roasted at a lower temperature (325 F) for a shorter time when compared to regular coffee. The roasting process ends even before you hear the first crack. White coffee is famous for its distinct taste and you will find them in most specialty coffee houses.
Origin Story
We know that white coffee is in trend right now, but the first sighting of white coffee happened a long time ago.
The history of coffee has a special place for Yemen as it’s the country that exported coffee and handled the world’s coffee demand during the early times of coffee.
Back in the 10th century, people in Yemen are known to roast their coffee very lightly resulting in coffee beans that are very similar to what we call white coffee.
So if you’re looking for some public figure to take responsibility for white coffee, you will be disappointed.
Also Read: Blue Bottle Coffee!
How To Make White Coffee?
Making white coffee at home is similar to how you would brew regular coffee.
You can make it with an espresso machine, a french press, an Aeropress, a Moka pot, or even a drip coffee maker.
An important thing to note is to make sure you are getting pre-ground white coffee beans. If you have the idea of buying white coffee beans, then you should have an industrial grinder at your place. Your regular grinder will not stand a chance against these slightly roasted beans.
Once you have your ground white coffee, you can use them in any of the above-mentioned methods to brew your cup of sunshine.
The ratio of coffee to water is important to get the right flavor. For a tablespoon of white coffee, you can add 6 to 7 ounces of water.
You also need to make sure that you have the right grind for your brewing method. For french press, you are going to need a coarse grind. A coarse grind is also perfect for an Aeropress.
If you’re going to use an espresso machine, then make sure you have finely ground white coffee.
Here’s a tip when using the french press. To brew regular coffee, your french press will not be on for more than 4 to 5 minutes. But in the case of white coffee, make sure it sits in your french press for at least 10 minutes to extract the most flavor.
Thanks to the lack of caramelization, your coffee will not turn bitter even if you brew it a little longer.
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How To Drink White Coffee?
White coffee can be consumed just like regular coffee. You can consume it hot or cold. You can also consume it black or with some milk. As the coffee comes with a nutty flavor, it will be complemented well with almond milk or any other non-dairy milk.
You can try other flavor enhancers as well. This will come in handy if you’re planning to drink your white coffee black.
Here are some healthy ways to sweeten your coffee.
Do keep in mind that this is a very acidic drink. If you have a problem with acid reflux after taking in your coffee, then consider adding some milk (dairy or non-dairy) to your coffee to offset that acidic effect.
Also Read: Fair Trade Coffee!
Does White Coffee Taste Good? What’s The Flavor Profile?
White coffee tastes nuttier and is very different when compared to black coffee. It carries a strong acidic flavor and very little bitterness (sometimes even zero). The low roasting temperature and time are the main reasons for this taste profile.
Let’s take a look at why white coffee is acidic and not bitter.
The low roasting temperature and time do not help in caramelizing the natural sugars in the coffee beans. That’s why white coffee does not have a bitter aftertaste.
During the roasting process, the organic acids in your coffee beans are retained as they evaporate. This is the reason why your white coffee is a lot more acidic than other coffees.
The flavor profile of your white coffee is also dependent on the type of coffee beans used. If you’re going to use Arabica coffee beans, you are going to end up with better coffee every single time when compared to Robusta coffee beans.
If you’re looking to amp up the taste profile of your white coffee, you can try adding some hawaii spice to your coffee.
The hawaij spice mix is a combination of cumin, black pepper, cardamom, and turmeric. Traditionally, adding this mix to white coffee is practiced. If you’re up for some spice in your white coffee, then you can try adding a few pinches of this mix to your cup.
The spice mix is super popular in the middle east and is used a lot. The hawaij mix improves the flavor profile of your coffee tremendously and you might want to add the mix to a lot of other coffees as well.
Also Read: What is Piccolo Coffee?
What Is The Difference Between White Coffee And Regular Coffee?
The taste difference between white coffee and regular black coffee has already been covered above.
Let’s talk about the other aspects.
White coffee is considered to be healthier than black coffee. Thanks to the low roasting temperature, white coffee retains most of its chlorogenic acids making it rich in antioxidants. It is great for improving cardiovascular health and reducing inflammation. Chlorogenic acid is even considered an anticarcinogen.
Why is white coffee rich in antioxidants?
As we said, it is mainly because of the roasting process.
The original green coffee beans are super-rich in chlorogenic acids and so in antioxidants levels as well. But due to the usual roasting process, the green beans would turn brown and also lose a lot of their antioxidant goodness.
In the case of white coffee, roasting happens at a lower temperature and also for a shorter time. So most of the chlorogenic acids are preserved giving the coffee an acidic nature but also makes it a healthier option.
White Coffee In Malaysia
The white coffee we’ve been discussing all this time is American white coffee.
There is also a Malaysian white coffee variant which is a lot different than its American counterpart.
To make Malaysian white coffee, palm oil margarine is used in the roasting process. Thanks to this addition, a nice caramelization develops on the beans even at a low temperature (around 200 F).
Once the beans are roasted, they are ground to perfection. Later, you can use the grounds to brew your coffee and serve it with sweetened condensed milk. The result is a smooth and sweet coffee that is pretty good, to be honest.
If you’re looking for a sweet coffee, then this Malaysian version of white coffee should be on your must-try list.
Also Read: Is Chai Latte Coffee?
Is White Coffee Healthy? (or Harmful?)
One of the reasons why white coffee is famous is its health benefits.
It comes with large quantities of chlorogenic acid when compared to regular, dark-roasted coffee. This chlorogenic acid is an antioxidant compound that does wonders for your body. It can play a crucial role in the purification of blood and also helps in regulating your digestion.
Chlorogenic acid also comes with anti-inflammatory effects. You can also lose weight, maintain blood pressure, and even reduce the risk of diabetes.
Thanks to the presence of more caffeine, it keeps you more alert and gives you better mental clarity. If you’re feeling dizzy, white coffee will get you back on your feet in no time.
Some Side Effects of White Coffee
White coffee might look like a great alternative to regular coffee, but it is not without its fair share of problems.
Here are some side effects that you should pay attention to.
We mentioned white coffee can keep your blood pressure under control. But if you are going to consume ungodly amounts of white coffee, then it can increase your blood pressure.
If you get acid reflux from drinking regular coffee, white coffee will affect you more. White coffee is more acidic in nature and when you take it black, you will get heartburn (if you already have the problem). To combat it, you can have your white coffee with dairy or non-dairy milk like almond milk.
Thanks to the higher caffeine content, you don’t want to drink the same amount as regular coffee as it can lead to headaches.
Excess consumption of white coffee can also give you heart palpitations. You must avoid white coffee if you’re pregnant as it can impact the fetus’ growth and can sometimes even lead to a miscarriage (study).
How Much Caffeine Does White Coffee Have?
White coffee comes with a slightly higher caffeine content when compared to darker roasts. Though there is a lot of misinformation floating around, white coffee will not have more than 5% extra caffeine. This difference is not big enough to create a neurological effect or a massive change in flavor.
This study gives us contradicting information that darker roasts can have more caffeine levels by taking into account numerous factors.
If you compare the same volume of dark roast coffee with white coffee, the former will have 9% more caffeine, according to that study. When the comparison is made with weight, the gap widens and reaches 32%.
Do keep in mind that there’s more to it than superficial comparisons. The brewing method you choose will also affect the caffeine content in your cup of joe. The caffeine content will also depend on the type of coffee beans you use.
Does Starbucks Have White Coffee?
If you’re looking for a cup of white coffee in Starbucks, you’re out of luck. Starbucks does not serve white coffee and you will not find it on their menu.
The closest you can get is a coffee that is brewed from lightly roasted beans. Though the taste will be different with lesser caffeine and lesser acidity, it is the closest thing to white coffee in Starbucks.
Is White Coffee Stronger?
White coffee comes with more caffeine than dark roast varieties. This is because of the roasting that happens at a lower temperature for a shorter time. White coffee comes with 5% more caffeine than regular coffee which is not that big of a jump.
Coffee shops and brands might blow the difference in caffeine levels out of proportion. But in reality, the difference is minimal. The increased caffeine levels are great, but they aren’t life-changing.
Is White Coffee Keto?
White coffee is keto diet friendly. As white coffee does not come with any carbs, you can drink it without the addition of any dairy or non-dairy milk while on your keto diet.
Is White Coffee The Same As Blonde Roast?
White coffee is not the same as a blonde roast. White coffee is obtained by under roasting beans at 325 F, a blonde roast is proper roasting where the beans are roasted anywhere between 355 to 400 F. For white coffee, the roasting process stops before you hear the first crack but in a blonde roast, the roasting process stops before the first crack or immediately after it.
A blonde roast might be more acidic in nature when compared to dark roasts but is less acidic when compared to white coffee as it is roasted at a lower temperature and for a shorter period.
There is also a color difference between the two. White coffee looks whitish whereas a blonde roast looks slightly brown.
Can White Coffee Be Decaf?
Considering white coffee is just regular coffee beans, you can make decaf variants out of them. But right now, there aren’t any brands that offer decaf white coffee. People prefer white coffee as they come with more caffeine so looking for a decaf variant destroys the whole point.
If this changes, we would be the first ones to change this and let you know.
Can You Have White Coffee While Fasting?
You can have white coffee while fasting. You will continue to be in the state of fasting when you have something that is 50 calories or less. Drinking white coffee without any milk in it should keep the calories within that level and won’t disturb your fasting.
When you are fasting, you need to make sure that your body can handle acidic content. If your empty stomach won’t handle foods that are acidic in nature, then you should avoid white coffee while fasting.
Does White Coffee Improve Your Appearance?
There is no evidence that suggests that white coffee can be good for your appearance. Having said that, white coffee brings a lot of antioxidants to the table that can help in reducing the effects of aging.
In addition to that, if you feel a lot healthier after the switch to white coffee, it will reflect on your appearance.
Final Thoughts on White Coffee
White coffee is awesome. It brings a whole new flavor to your favorite beverage, and if you’re tired with your usual coffee drink, this one can be a refreshing change.
A white roast gives you a white coffee bean that carries a different flavor profile when compared to regular or instant coffee. Many confuse this with a flat white coffee, but it’s much more than that and your favorite coffee shop might not serve it.
If you’re a coffee lover, you will like this nutty flavor that reminds you of a latte. With milk, this white coffee’s coffee flavor comes so close to that of a latte or a cappuccino except with more acidity and less bitterness.
Do give it a shot and let us know how you liked it. If you have any questions, do get in touch with us. We’ll get back to you as soon as humanely possible.
Happy Caffeinating!